| Start Date: | 1/31/2012 | | | | End Date: | 1/31/2012 | | |
STATEHOUSE- Rep. Tim Neese (R-Elkhart) has authored legislation that would adopt a Health Care Compact (HCC), an agreement which would allow Indiana to remove itself from the federal government’s universal health care mandate. The legislation, House Bill (HB) 1269, passed out of the House with a 62-35 vote on Tuesday.
HCC is an alternative to the Federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and would allow Indiana to remove itself from the existing Federal law.
“Passing this legislation through the Indiana House of Representatives is the first step and right move, as I feel it is impossible to administer health care on the federal level,” said Rep. Neese. “Indiana’s health care needs are different than the other states, so the health care available should reflect accordingly. The HCC compact is about reform and specifically, government reform.”
An interstate compact is an agreement between two or more states that can be adopted as part of the law in each state with the consent of Congress. The HCC has to be approved by congress and signed by the president, before it can be implemented.
As part of the HCC, the Indiana General Assembly, working with a cross section of medical experts and citizens’ input, would determine if and how a health care system would operate in Indiana. The compact would allow Indiana to modify specific federal laws, regulations and orders concerning health care.
According to the Health Care Compact Alliance, the federal health care system impacts over 300 million residents nationwide with approximately 6.5 million of those being Hoosiers. Indiana would have control over federal funds collected from the states. The federal health care system spending exceeds $2.3 trillion annually, and there are 2,688 pages of regulations for Medicare and Medicaid.
The compact would also secure federal funding for Indiana if the state chooses to call upon the state’s authority under the compact.
“Georgia, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas have all passed HCC and 18 other states are currently considering HCC,” said Rep. Neese. “Indiana is moving towards becoming one more state who values the decision to remove itself from the federal health care mandate. The compact seeks to restore jurisdiction to Indiana, in conjunction with allowing a voice in the matter. This legislation allows the option for Indiana to tailor a health care plan that is best for Hoosiers.”
-30-
Rep. Tim Neese represents District 48 which includes parts of Elkhart County and parts of St. Joseph County. Rep. Neese is the Chairman of the Local Government Committee, and a member of the Utilities and Energy Committee, Statutory Committee on Interstate and International Cooperation.
Neese NR - health care compact passes House.docx |
